In what was one of the most important games of the La Liga this season to put the title race into perspective, Atletico Madrid played host to local rivals Real Madrid. In a thorough thrashing, the home side managed to win by a thumping 4-0 scoreline as they dominated the game in all aspects of play.

This win means that Real have been unable to get past Atletico for the third time in the span of just a month.

Here is an account of how each player who featured in the game fared.

Atletico Madrid

Moya – 6/10

Moya didn’t have much to do in the whole game as Real Madrid barely got any shots away to test him. However, he was composed enough to get the job done whenever he was called upon and to deal with a couple of unwanted back passes from his defenders.

Diego Godin – 6.5/10

The Uruguayan centre half was a rock in defence as he allowed absolutely nothing to get past him. He suffered a nose bleed after getting hit by Sami Khedira’s elbow while vying for the ball in the box, but did not let it affect his game. Godin earned himself an unnecessary yellow card after protesting with the referee.

Joao Miranda – 7/10

Miranda shares a great partnership with Godin in the centre of defence, and it was no different tonight as he shut off the likes of Benzema very well. He was calm under pressure; as minimal as it was and ensured that his team didn’t concede any goal.

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Juanfran – 7/10

Juanfran didn’t have much to do tonight and majorly sat back and helped keep all threats away from the box. He also kept Ronaldo quiet, who had a poor game to say the least. Also managed to deliver a few teasing crosses into the box.

Guilherme Siqueira – 7/10

The attacking fullback from Brazil showed that he has a defensive side to his game as well. He did bomb forward on occasion and provided the assist for Saul’s sensational overhead goal in the first half. All in all, Siqueira had a solid game.

Koke: N/A

Koke has been a crucial cog in the wheel for Atletico Madrid since the last season, and it was a crucial blow to see him hobble off clutching his hamstring muscle. Koke played just the 10 minutes, and did not have sufficient time to make any significant contributions to the run of play.

Tiago – 6.5/10

Tiago had a solid first half for the home side as he sat in the centre of midfield and stopped the likes of Isco from getting time on the ball. He was good in closing down the opposition and even found himself on the scoresheet as he opened the scoring with an effort from outside the box. However, he did miss a sitter in the second half as he headed he ball into the ground from almost point blank range.

Arda Turan – 7/10

The Turkish winger put in a good shift on the right wing as he contributed defensively along with his attacking duties. On a wing where he had to face Cristiano Ronaldo, Turan managed to juggle perfectly between his duties. He managed to keep his boots on tonight as well, but did get a yellow card and will miss the next match.

Gabi – 7/10

Atletico Madrid relies on a high intensity game and gives its 100% in every situation. The captain, Gabi enshrined that very philosophy in the derby game as he was a workhorse; switching between pressing and sitting back perfectly; to make it a good game for him and his team.

Mario Mandzukic – 9/10 – Hero Of The Match

Mario Mandzukic has had more to do at Atletico Madrid than his time at Bayern Munich. He is expected to play just that wee bit away from the goal to allow the team to play in a more collective manner. He did exactly that tonight and also managed to push Raphael Varane and Daniel Carvajal, which allowed his other team mates to get more space to work with. He also chipped in with an assist for the goal scored by Saul. He put the game to bed by scoring a brilliant header from a Torres cross.

Antoine Griezmann – 7.5/10

The top scorer of the season for Atletico Madrid proved his worth yet again as he slotted home the 3rd goal of the game from a Saul cross. He put the defence on edge with his skills and goal threat. Playing off Mandzukic, Griezmann was a constant threat in the match.

Subs

Saul Niguez – 8.5/10

A dramatic script was written for Saul as he came off the bench in just the 10th minute to replace the injured Koke. Soon after that, he scored a tremendous bicycle kick from inside the box to extend the lead by 2 goals. The 21 year old wonderkid then provided the assist for Griezmann’s goal in the second half. However, he landed awkwardly in the buld up to the goal, and was subbed off thereafter.

Raul Garcia – 5.5/10

Raul Garcia was in the action even before he came on the park as he got a yellow while warming up on the sidelines. He replaced Saul and didn’t really have much to do.

Fernando Torres – 6/10

Fernando Torres came on to replace Griezmann with barely over 12 minutes to play, but he managed to provide a brilliant whipped cross to assist Mandzukic’s goal.

Real Madrid

Iker Casilas – 2/10 – Flop Of The Match

Iker Casillas had a poor game in goal tonight. It all started to go pea shaped for him early on in the game when he committed a howler to let in Tiago’s shot. This set the tone as he let another goal in, in the first half and 2 more in the next half. He was punching balls away when there weren’t defenders to help him out and this underlines his unsure performance tonight. He didn’t really have much of a chance in the other 3 goals, but should have marshalled his troops better, being the captain and most experienced player of the team.

Fabio Coentrao – 3/10

Coentrao has barely gotten any match time this season, and it was very much evident as he looked rusty. Known for his attacking runs, we saw none of it in this match, perhaps due to the fact that Los Blancos could barely keep hold of the ball. He didn’t do much defensively either.

Raphael Varane – 3/10

In the absence of both Pepe and Sergio Ramos, Varane was part of a highly inexperienced pairing at centre back. Varane is a highly talented player as was shown in the past seasons when Mourinho was coach, however he has not gotten to play enough since then. He did no justice to his talent with his performance tonight, and had his hands full with the likes of Mandzukic and Griezmann.

Nacho – 3.5/10

The second part of the CB pairing, Nacho, clearly showed his inexperience and he was unable to cope with the demands of such an important match. He was caught out of position too often, and did nothing to further his reputation at Real Madrid.

Daniel Carvajal – 4/10

Carvajal too had a poor game like all his team mates and didn’t contribute at all to his team’s cause. He didn’t go forward, and looked unsure in his challenges. All in all, a forgettable match for the Spanish right back.

Isco – 3.5/10

Isco came into the starting lineup to replace the injured James Rodriguez but failed to make any difference to the run of play. He is a creative player with a lot of flair and has a penchant for some trickery here and there. Isco is a player who needs little space, and doesn’t hesitate in creating some of his own. But with the amazingly foolproof closing down game played by the opposition, Isco was rendered a mute spectator.

Toni Kroos – 4/10

Toni Kroos is a brilliant passer of the ball but didn’t get enough chances to prove his mettle in this regard. His defensive insufficiencies were brought to the fore as he failed to close down players on the counter. He would also have to take part of the blame for the 2nd goal as he got sucked into the byline and failed to guard the centre from where Saul scored a brilliant goal, totally unmarked.

Sami Khedira – 3.5/10

Sami Khedira too had a poor game and like Kroos, would take the blame for one of the goals conceded. Rather than the defenders, it was Khedira who should have stopped the first goal of the game from going in from Tiago. He was the closest to Tiago, and should have been alert enough to block the shot which came in from outside the box. He was subbed off at the start of the second half.

Gareth Bale – 5.5/10

Gareth Bale was the only Real Madrid player who looked anywhere close to decent all through the match. Though he too did not make any Real contribution (pun intended), he was the only one who was a threat on occasion with a couple of good crosses and direct dribbles. He also put in a few good tackles to show his defensive side from a few seasons ago.

Cristiano Ronaldo – 2/10

In what was an anticlimactic return from suspension for the Portugese winger, Ronaldo barely did anything for the whole match. No stepovers, no take-ons, no amazing passes or displays of brilliance. He was definitely in some discomfort on the ball tonight and a lot more was expected of him. His poor performances against Atletico Madrid continue. Definitely his poorest performances in this season.

Karim Benzema – 3.5/10

Benzema barely got any service, and did not make too many efforts to create some on his own. On the rare instance that he did get into the box, he was marked out brilliantly by the Godin-Miranda duo.

Subs

Jese – 4.5/10

Jese came on at the start of the second half to replace Sami Khedira and add some more ammunition on the attacking front. He did try to do a lot of things on his own because of lack of support, but could not create any clear cut chances. Jese even managed to get himself booked towards the end of the match.

Asier Illaramendi – 4.5/10

Illaramendi replaced Isco with about 20 minutes to go. He did make a few good passes, but it was all a little too late.

Javier Hernandez – N/A

He came on in the 73rd minute, but barely saw the ball at his feet, and hence it would be unfair to rate him based on just that.